Incidents blamed on addiction

A man who was found unconscious in a stolen car in the downtown area in January has been given a suspended sentence and one year of probation.

Karlin Armstrong, 30, was also found in possession of two large knives in front of the Sudbury Courthouse last December,

“It appears you have been struggling with addiction now for a long time,” Ontario Court Justice Karen Lische told Armstrong Tuesday. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from sitting here and doing my job is that addictions can be vicious. I am encouraged you continue to see the need to attend treatment.” Armstrong, now of Gore Bay, had pleaded guilty to four charges: two counts of breach of probation, one count of breach of bail, and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Lische, accepting a joint sentencing submission from the Crown and defence lawyer Danielle Vincent, gave Armstrong a suspended sentence and one year probation order which includes conditions such as no illegal drugs, no weapons, and to take counselling for substance abuse.

Lische also issued a DNA order and five-year weapons ban, and demanded the two seized knives, which belong to his common-law partner and are heirlooms, be returned to the woman.

Lische did remind Armstrong that the sentence she was issuing was light given his criminal record, but within the range due to circumstances surrounding his matter.

“You are young,” she told Armstrong. “You have a full life ahead of you. You can do a lot of good if you get past the addiction.”

The court heard that on Feb. 3, 2017, Armstrong received a suspended sentence and an 18-month probation order concerning a causing a disturbance conviction.

Armstrong reported to his probation officer promptly, but by Sept. 11, stopped attending appointments and a warrant was issued for his arrest in early December.

On Dec. 29, Greater Sudbury Police officers responded to a report of a disturbance outside the Sudbury Courthouse on Elm Street. Armstrong was found in possession of a 14.1 grams of a white powder suspected to be cocaine, two knives with three-four inch blades, and two naloxone sprays used to reverse opioid overdoses.

The white powder turned out to not be cocaine or another controlled substance.

Armstrong was released on bail Dec. 30. He did not report to the Elizabeth Fry Bail Supervision Program as required and it was learned he was no longer living at the address he had given.

Vincent told the court Armstrong had been evicted.

Armstrong told Lische he was struggling with addiction at the time, had been evicted, and his wife was also suffering from complications from an injury.

Then on Jan. 20, officers responding to a report of an unconscious man in a car on Stanley Street found paramedics attending to Armstrong, who appeared to be in an intoxicated state. Some drug paraphernalia such as needles and drug residues were found in the passenger seat area. A check determined the car had been reported stolen in Sault Ste. Marie.

Vincent said Armstrong did not know the vehicle had been stolen as a man had offered him a ride and said it was a rental. Armstrong, however, suspected the car had been kept too long.

Vincent said Armstrong, who is of Aboriginal heritage, developed drug addiction at an early age, and has struggled with it on and off for most of his life.

The lawyer added that Armstrong has been looking to get into a treatment program since last April and is now set to attend an Aboriginal-based one in Blind River in November.

“He does want to go to treatment,” said Vincent, noting Armstrong was in the throes of addiction at the time of the incidents. “When he is sober, he is someone who has enormous potential.”

The court also learned Armstrong experienced delays returning to Sudbury from a Sault Ste. Marie treatment centre and a breach of charter rights could have led to a stay of proceedings had the case gone to trial, according to Vincent.

Assistant Crown attorney Katherine Spensieri noted that Armstrong’s record included convictions for assault and causing a disturbance. She said the incident outside the courthouse was unnerving.

“He was found to be in dangerous possession of two concealed weapons on the grounds of the courthouse, where people expect a place of safety,” said the assistant Crown attorney.

Spensieri did note that a stay of proceedings was inevitable in the case, the guilty pleas saved the court resources and time, and that the focus of the sentence and probation order addresses Armstrong’s rehabilitation.

As a result of the four guilty pleas, several other charges Armstrong was facing were withdrawn by the Crown.